Filteration On A Fish Only Tank

Hi,

A little background. Im getting a 55 US gallon fish tank (48"x15"x18" LxWxH) and I am going for a fish only tank. No live rock but lots of ocean rock for decoration and hiding places. I am using an external (or canister) filter rated for a 400 litre tank and a V2 400 skimmer, rated for a 400 litre tank.

I would like to know if this will work out for me ok?

Stocking wise I would like something like a mix of these,

- 2 Percula OR Ocellaris clowns
- 1 Six Line Wrasse
- 1 Dwarf Angel (not decided which one yet)
- 1 Flame Hawkfish
- 1 Purple firefish
- 1 Royal Gramma

Would I be Overstoked?

Any other opinions and info would be great

thanks

 

I dont think that would be overstocked.

 

Thanks for the reply. Thats what I was wanting to know most, Im glad I can have them all then.

What would be the best order to add them in?

 

As a fish I would suggest u a tang as another addition, a kole tang or Ctenochaetus binotatus they will help u in cleaning ur tank!

 

I could get a Kole tang aswell as the other stocking?

 

Sean

General guideline would be 1 inch of fish for every 4 gallons of water
allow for max adult size of fish and not the size of the fish when you buy them

Oxygen is the biggest limiting factor, and whilst with an over rated skimmer and cannister you may well be able to keep the water quality good with a higher stocking level, without additional water surface such as you would would get with a sump and fuge , then you may have trouble maintaining oxygen levels

so work to 1 inch per 4 gallons - build up slowly 1 fish every other week (2 fish if its clowns as putting 2 in together should prevent territorial battles)

and asses after each introduction - before making the next one

Steve

 

I personally wouls suggested u a filtration with sump tank! I've learnt from various friends in France, Filtration should be simple and efficient!
I will post u a pict of wat I do!!!!

 

It's more fish than I would put in a 55 but it's not unheard of, you might be OK. I wouldn't put a tang in though, personally. I think 75g is the smallest I would go for full grown Ctenochaetus tangs. You also have some potentially aggressive fish in there, the 6line wrasse has been known to get aggressive as it gets older, hawkfish as well. The clowns if they pair up and start spawning can get territorial. Eventually these might make it difficult for the more timid fish, like the firefish to survive healthily.

Also I would recommend oversizing your skimmer, most people recommend this because a lot of times the ratings on the skimmers are underestimates for some reason. Also there is no harm in having something that is more powerful than what you need, it's always good to be able to handle more waste through skimming.

 

Hey, thanks for all the replies. Im having a small sump under the tank so I can get the skimmer out of the way and also to raise turnover and oxygen levels, and also water volume.

Also I MAY upgrade sometime next year to a 4x2x2 (about 120 US gallon) but im not 100%
about that.

Also I thought I did up the skimmer, 55 gallons is around 200 litres I think, the skimmer can go up to 400 litres (most likely less as you say). I already have this so I kind of want to stick with it ATM.

If I have a fair ammount of rockwork will it help curb agressiveness? So they can all find their own places.

 

my sump

I've put the sump, I do! Its very simple, and efficient! Also, u'll find that the wet/dry trickle is a bit different from that u've normally seen, but to me is very common in europe and by much more efficient! Well, am not forcing u to go by this filtration though, I just wanted to share wat i've learnt.
Firsf of all, try to ensure that all the water passes through the entire area of the bio-ball section! If ur skimmer can work on 20cm water level then reduce the separators to 20cm instead of 25cm. As a skimmer I would have used either a schuran jetskim100run by aqua-bee pump or an H&S110-F2000.
- the green painted area U put some kind of foam, sponge or perlon. the red painted area is somekind of filter media such as calcareous coral rocks, ceramic rings. The filter media shoud be potous as it will be another house for nitrifying bacteria. As for the foam or perlon must be clean it regularly(evry 3 days)..!!
Bio-balls should not be cleaned, leave as it is. Its been 10years my friend in France have touched his bio-balls. By the way concerning the bio-balls filtration, 10-12Lts of bio-balls should be enough. Aqua-medic or Hagen supplies good bio-balls/bactoballs.
U can add a U.V sterilizer if u want but no need to if u let ur tank cycles well to minimum maturity. Let ur tank cycle for atleast 1 month, i.e let it complete its nitrogen cycle, and when everything is stabilised u can start introducing ur fishes!
U can ask if u don't understand something! Cheers m8!!